Monday, October 08, 2012

Absurd Goalie Monday: Doug Grant

While they do say it's a wild ride to the top, this story is one of a hometown boy done good. Not only did he make his name for himself with his hometown club, but he was able to probably be one of the most unorthodox routes to the NHL. This week, the profile of Doug Grant

Grant started his time at home playing for the Corner Brook Pats in the Newfoundland Junior league in the 1964-65 season then seems like he disappeared for the 1965-66 season before moving onto the Newfoundland Senior League.

In the Newfoundland Senior League, Grant played for the Corner Brook Royals starting in the 1966-67 season, going 12-8-2 in 23 appearance, then 1-2 in three playoff contests. The 1967-68 season had Grant appear in 40 games with a 19-16-5 record, then going 8-4 in the playoffs to represent the Maritime Provinces in the Allan Cup where the Royals would lose in the semifinals. Grant returned again for the 1968-69 season, posting a 17-18-4 record, then going 1-2 in four Allan Cup game play-ins. As Grant came back for the 1969-70 season, he put up a 18-17-5 record (3-4 in the playoffs), while he enjoyed success in the 1970-71 season but going 16-13-6 (3-8 in the playoffs) while being named to the First All-Star Team for the end of the year.

Follow those years, Grant decided to move to the Canadian college ranks to play for Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland for 14 games in the 1971-72 season and being named to the First All-Star Team. Because of that performance, the Detroit Red Wings signed Grant in March of 1972. Grant went to the Central League's Fort Worth Wings for three games (1-2-0) before filling in with the Grand Falls Cataracts in the Allan Cup for a game, a loss.

In the 1972-73 season, Grant joined the AHL's Virginia Wings, playing in 51 games (no record) and posting six shutouts, as well as going 6-6 in the playoffs and taking First All-Star Team honors in his first full pro-season.

During the 1973-74 season, Grant started the with the Virginia Wings and go 1-3-2 before he got called up to the Detroit Red Wings and finish 15-16-2 in 37 games for the Red Wings. Another split season for Grant occurred in the 1974-75 season where he would post a 1-5-0 record in Detroit, while finishing with a 14-11-8 record in Virginia. During the 1975-76 season, Grant spent most the season in AHL with the New Haven Nighthawks, compiling a 8-13-2 record in 23 games, while going 1-1-0 in Detroit.

Grant was traded to the St. Louis Blues in March of 1976 and finished in New Haven. For the 1976-77 season, Grant played 17 games for St. Louis (7-7-3), then spending 20 games in the Central League with the Kansas City Blues (10-6-4). The Blues used Grant for nine games in the 1977-78 season (3-3-2), while being assigned to the Central League's Salt Lake Golden Eagles, posting a 17-13-3 record-- being named to the Second All-Star Team and winning the Terry Sawchuk Trophy with Ed Staniowski for fewest goals against.

For the 1978-79 season, Grant played mostly in Salt Lake, finishing with a 15-12-3 record in 31 games, then 1-2 in the playoffs; as well as getting another Sawchuk Trophy with Staniowski. Grant also got the call from St. Louis for four games (0-2-1). With Grant returning to Salt Lake for the 1979-80 season, where he would go 24-12-2 in 38 games, then 7-2 in the playoffs to help the Golden Eagles win the Adams Cup and Grant would get the Max McNab Trophy for Playoff MVP. Grant did play a game in St. Louis, but didn't register in the decision.

Grant signed with the Golden Eagles for the next two season starting in the 1980-81 season, where he would only play five games that season (3-1-0) and then seven games in the 1981-82 season (2-3-0). After that season, Grant would retire from hockey.

It wasn't the most orthodox of treks and honestly, this is where the expansion era helped out a lot-- but in the long run, Grant accomplished a lot with a little in front of him and had a lot of help along the way later on down the line. He got his team awards and personal awards and shouldn't have much to overly complain about outside of not getting a better shake in the NHL.